Purim is one of the most joyful and spirited days of the Jewish calendar, filled with costumes, noisemakers, mishloach manos, and the festive energy of a community celebrating together. At Eichlers, we carry Purim costumes, gragers, and accessories for men, women, and children, suited to making this holiday genuinely fun and meaningful for the whole family.
Purim is built around four specific mitzvos: hearing Megillas Esther read from a kosher scroll on Purim night and Purim day, sending mishloach manos, two ready-to-eat food items, to at least one friend, giving matanos la'evyonim, gifts of money or food, to at least two poor people, and the Purim seudah, the festive meal eaten during the day of Purim. Each of these mitzvos has its own halachic requirements, and the Purim items and accessories carried at Eichlers support the joyful fulfillment of all four throughout the day.
Wearing costumes on Purim is a beloved and widely observed custom, rooted in various sources including the concept of hester panim, the hidden nature of divine providence in the Megillah story, where Hashem's name never appears explicitly. Costume customs vary by community, with some families dressing as characters from the Megillah specifically, and others choosing any festive costume. Whatever the specific tradition followed, costumes are one of the most anticipated parts of Purim for children and adults alike, and having one ready well before the day itself removes one of the most common sources of last-minute Purim stress.
The grager, the Purim noisemaker, is used by children and adults to drown out the name of Haman each time it is mentioned during the Megillah reading, a custom with roots in the desire to blot out the memory of Amalek. Gragers range from the simple, classic wooden ratchet design most widely associated with this custom through more elaborate or decorative versions that serve the same function with a bit more flair. Having a grager ready for both the night and day Megillah readings is essential for full participation in one of the most participatory and joyful parts of the entire reading.
Mishloach manos, the sending of food gifts to friends on Purim day, is one of the four mitzvos of the holiday and one that many families invest considerable creative energy in preparing. The mitzvah requires sending at least two ready-to-eat food items to at least one friend, and the presentation, packaging, and selection of foods has become a beloved annual tradition in most communities. Bags, boxes, ribbons, and decorative packaging supplies make it easy to put together mishloach manos that feel thoughtful and festive, whether you're preparing a few packages for close friends or a larger number for the whole class or neighborhood.
Purim is one of the most exciting days of the year for children, combining the drama of costumes with the sweetness of treats, the fun of the grager during the Megillah reading, and the energy of a community celebration unlike any other day on the calendar. Having the right costume, a grager, and books that explain the holiday's story in an age-appropriate way all contribute to a child's experience of Purim as genuinely joyful and meaningful rather than simply chaotic. Browse our kids books collection for Purim story books for every age.
A grager, a creative mishloach manos package, or a meaningful Purim book makes a fun and seasonally appropriate gift in the lead-up to the holiday. Browse our full bar mitzvah gifts collection for more meaningful gift ideas that extend beyond the Purim season.
Purim items are one part of a complete and joyful holiday celebration. Eichlers carries everything else you need for Purim as well.
The four mitzvos are hearing Megillas Esther on Purim night and day, sending mishloach manos to at least one friend, giving matanos la'evyonim to at least two poor people, and eating the Purim seudah during the day of Purim.
Mishloach manos is the Purim mitzvah of sending food gifts to friends, requiring at least two ready-to-eat food items sent to at least one person. The custom of preparing festive, creative packages has become a beloved annual tradition in most communities.
The costume custom is rooted in various sources including the concept of hester panim, the hidden nature of divine providence in the Megillah story, where Hashem's name never appears explicitly throughout the entire book.
Gragers are used to drown out Haman's name each time it appears during the reading, rooted in the mitzvah to blot out the memory of Amalek. Both children and adults participate in this custom throughout both the night and day readings.
Matanos la'evyonim is the Purim mitzvah of giving gifts of money or food to at least two poor people on the day of Purim, fulfilling the holiday's emphasis on communal joy and ensuring that everyone has the means to participate in the celebration.
Preparing costumes, gragers, and mishloach manos supplies well before Purim arrives removes last-minute stress and ensures everything is ready for the full day of celebration, from the night Megillah reading through the Purim seudah.